“Most shocking to me was that my anxiety would never fully go away, although I could recover and learn to live with it.”
I went through some pretty tough times when I had my first full-blown panic attack.
I was rushed to the hospital, but my blood work and EKGs came back normal. I was released with a diagnosis of panic disorder, which ran in my family. Then I got worse, and I pretty much became afraid of my own shadow. I also had burning sensations in my chest, weakness all over, and I felt so fatigued I couldn’t even stand. My anxiety was so terrible I couldn’t eat; I just shook. Three times in one week I went to the doctor complaining of dizziness and hot flashes. The doctor said everything was normal and that I just had to relax and take deep breaths.
Most shocking to me was that my anxiety would never fully go away, although I could recover and learn to live with it. I kept asking, “why me?” Depression set in and I got worse. I realized it was time to see someone.
I saw a social worker, who became my mentor and hero. When I went to her office, my mom waited outside because I wouldn’t dare drive myself, and I remember crying and thinking I truly was going to die. She said that I must love and accept myself in order to recover. Among the thing